Oregon Passes Climate Change and Transportation Legislation

On March 18, 2010 Oregon Governor Ted Kuglonoski signed Senate Bill 1059, legislation that lays the groundwork for smart, sustainable, and cost-effective transportation systems. Specifically, the new law directs the Oregon Transportation Commission, in consultation with metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), other state agencies, local governments and stakeholders, to develop a state-level strategy to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from transportation sources. The legislation also directs the state Department of Transportation (ODOT) and the Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) to develop a toolkit to assist local governments and MPOs in reducing GHGs from transportation, and create guidelines for scenario planning. Additionally, ODOT, the Department of Environmental Quality and the State Department of Energy shall provide information to the DLCD to set transportation-related GHG reduction targets (not mandates) for major metropolitan areas.

SB 1059 implements some of the recommendations from the Metropolitan Planning Organization and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Task Force established by the Legislature in 2009.